Invalid handling apparatus



Feb. 24, 1953 H. A. WICKEY INVALID HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 25,1950 IN V EIY TOR. Ham/d A. W/cK ey BY ATTUR VE Patented Feb. 24, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INVALID HANDLING APPARATUS Harold A. Wickey,Mission, Kans.

Application October 25, 1950, Serial No. 191,988

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to apparatus adapted for attachment to a bedsteador the like for facilitating the handling of invalids not only from thestandpoint of movement of the patient to provide comfort but to lessenthe task of changing, replacing and rearranging bedding and otherbedstead parts without full removal of the patient from the bed.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide aninvalid handling device that includes a pair of spaced-apart, rotatablebeams adapted for connection with the headboard and foot-board of abedstead and provided with a sheet of flexible material between thebeams for receiving the patient and raising him to an elevated positionby rotation of the beams and coiling the sheet thereabout.

Other objects of this invention include the way in which the aforesaidrotatable beams are releasably mounted upon the bedstead; the way inwhich the supports are provided for rotatably receiving the beams; andthe manner of releasably locking the rotatable beams against rotation soas to hold the patient in an elevated condition when desired.

Many more minor objects including details of construction will be madeclear or become apparent as the following specification progresses,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of invalid handling apparatus made pursuantto the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed, crosssectional view taken on lineIV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detailed, sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VIVI of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed section taken on line VII VII of Fig. 3.

The apparatus forming the subject matter of this invention is adaptedfor mounting upon a conventional bedstead broadly designated by thenumeral Ill and including a head-board l2 and a foot-board l4. Uppermosthorizontal rails l6 and I8 form a part of the head-board l2 and thefoot-board M respectively and the latter additionally includes alowermost cross-bar 20.

The attachment hereof includes a pair of identical, spaced-apartelongated beams 22 disposed in a common horizontal plane and having alength greater than the distance between the 2 head-board l2 and thefoot-board M. The beams 22 are supported at one end thereof by the railsIt of head-board l2 through the medium of an elongated strap 24preferably of metallic material. I

The strap 2t is U-shaped in cross-section as illustrated in Fig. 2 andembraces the uppermost end of the head-board l2 including the rail IBthereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the length of thestrap 24 is substantially the same as that of the upper rail IS.

The strap 24 has connected directly thereto in any suitable manner, anelongated bar 26 of any suitable material and preferably polygonal incross-section that is provided with a notch 28 in the uppermost edgethereof for each of the beams 22 respectively. While the beams 22 arepolygonal, preferably square in cross-section throughout substantiallytheir entire lengths, one end thereof is rounded to present a pintle 38that is free to rotate within the corresponding notch 28.

The opposite ends of the beams 22 are supported by the foot-board l4through the medium of an elongated strap 32 similar to the strap 24 andlooped over the rail Hi. There is provided an elongated, uprightstandard 34 for each beam 22 respectively that is secured directly tothe strap 32 in any suitable fashion and extends well above the rail [8as well as below strap 32 alongside the cross-bar 20. The two uprights34 are joined near the lowermost ends thereof by an elongated plate 36that bears flatly against the bar 20 and each upright 34 is providedwith a hook 38 swingably secured thereto and normally looped over thecross-bar 28 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Each upright 34 has a notch 40 in the uppermost end thereof forreceiving a rounded portion 52 of the corresponding beam 22. A look foreach upright 34 includes an elongated element 44 having a polygonalnotch 46 at the uppermost end thereof adapted to receive its respectivebeam 22 outwardly from rounded portion 42 and to thereby hold the beam22 against rotation.

Each element M is releasably secured to its upright 34 through themedium of a bolt 48 having a wingnut 50, the bolts 48 extending throughelongated slots 52 extending longitudinally of the elements 44.

The beams 22 are interconnected by a polygonal sheet of flexiblematerial 54 having its marginal edges secured to and coiled about thecorresponding beam 22. Rotation of the beams 22 is facilitated by ahandle 56 at one end thereof.

It is to be understood that the device is placed in use after mountingupon the bedstead I by arranging the patient or invalid upon the sheetof material 54 that is looped downwardly from its support; by beams 22.Beams 22 are unlocked for free rotation by loosening of the wing nuts 50and shifting the elements 44 downwardly on the uprights 34. Uponmanipulation of the handies 56 to rotate the beams 22, the sheet ofmaterial 54 is caused to coil about the beams 22 and the patient thereonis elevated to a desired position. The user thereupon shifts theelements 44 upwardly to a point where the notches 46 thereof engage thebeams 22 and prevents the latter from rotation. Tightening of the wingnuts 50iho1ds the locking elements 44 in a position engaging the beams22. When it is desired to lower the patient either or both of theelements 44 may be released and the corresponding beam 22 will rotate topermit downward movement of the bight of flexible sheet 54.

It is understood further that the device may be used to roll the patientfrom side to side in the bed by manipulation of either or both of thebeams 22. The position of the patient can thereby be changed withoutpain or injury.

By virtue of the attachment that has been included for theinvalid-handling apparatus upon a bedstead l0, itis possible to quicklyand easily change the same to different beds when desired. All of theparts are fully and readily collapsible and therefore, easily shipped orstored as may become necessary or desired.

It is appreciated that the expense of manufacture of the apparatus isnot great and that the same may be operated to lift or move patientsquickly and easily without particular skill on the part of a nurse orother attendant.

Details of construction may be varied within the spirit of thisinvention and therefore, it is desired to be limited only by the scopeof the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

Invalid handling apparatus comprising a pair of spaced supports adaptedfor attachment to the head-board and the foot-board respectively of abedstead; a pair of spaced, elongated beams carried by the supports forrotation on their longitudinal axes; a flexible sheet interconnectingthe beams and adapted to coil thereabout on re- .tation of the beams;and a lock for each beam respectively, each lock being shiftable to andfrom a position engaging its beam for holding the same against rotation,a portion of each beam being polygonal in cross-section, said locks eachincluding a reciprocable bar having a notch for receiving said portionof its beam.

HAROLD A. WICKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

